Control means



April 9, l929 H. A. DOUGLAS CONTROL MEANS Filed Feb. 25, 1927 Patented Apr. 9, 1929. l

UTED

l HARRY A. DOUGLAS, OF BRONSON, MICHIGAN'.

contraer.' MEANS.

Application nled February 23, 1927. Serial No. 170,188.

My invention relates to -means for controlling the ignition of an internal combustion engine, particularly of an automotive vehicle, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved means of this type. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a pait of this application I have shown, for purposesoi illustration, one form which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is aview showing this embodiment of my invention as it appears from the dash board of an automobile; v

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; j f

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; while Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternative method of securing the rear end closure in position.

The ignitionv control means herein shown comprises a substantially theft-proof container 11 itself comprising a tubular portion 12 closed at one end by anintegral end portion 13 carrying on its interior an inner frame l14, and on its exterior a face. plate 15,. each secured to the end section 13 in any suitable manner, as by welding.

Mounted at the interior end of the inner frame 14 is a base 16 of suitable insulating material carrying switch contacts 17 and secured against retrograde movement by a flange 18 formed by inturning the interior end of the frame 14.

The face plate 15 is provided 'at its periphery with an inturned flange 19 adapted to it tightly against the dash board of an automo tive vehicle, adjacent this ange 19 with countersunk apertures 20 for the passage of securing means (not shown) for securing the entire unit in position mounted upon the dash of the automotive vehicle, and centrallywith an outwardly conveXed section 21 providing a space 22 between itself and the end section 13 of the casing 11 adapted to receive a lock 23 secured against rotation in any suitable manner and having its barrel 24 projecting exteriorly of the face plate 15 through. an aperture 25 in the face plate 15, and interior ly of the casin 11 through apertures 26 and 27 formed in a ignment with the aperture 25 in' the plate 15 respectively in the end section 13 of the casing 11 and in the inner'frame 14.

Mounted upon the interior end of the lock barrel 24 and rotatable therewith when the lock barrel 24 is rotated by the key 28 is a disk 29 formed of any suitable insulating material and provided with contacts 3() connected b a connecting strip 31 and adapted, when the switch is in the on position, to engage the contacts 15 carried bythe base 16 to close the circuit therebetween.

` Mounted in the casing 11 rearwardly of the inner frame 14 is the ignition coil 31 of the ignition system of the engine of the automotive vehicle, comprising primary and secondary windings 32 and 33 confined between spool ends 34 and encircling the central bar A35 of a coil core 36 having also transverse end members 37 united by longitudinal connecting members 38 completing the magnetic circuit and engaging snugly within the casing 11 to support the entire ignition coil 31 freely removably directly from the casing 11.

Closing the rear end of the casing 11 is an end member 39 formed of any suitable insulating material and secured in position by pins 40 driven through apertures 41 in the tubular section 12 of the casing 11 into cooperating recesses 42 formed about the periphery of the end member 39, and interposed between the end member 39 and the adjacent transverse member 37 of the coil 31, and also between the end section 13 of the casing 11 and the adjacent transverse member 37 of the coil 31, are spacing rings 43 and 44 preferably formed of suitable insulating material and lprovided to secure the ignition coil 31 spaced oth from the end member 39 and from the inner frame 14; mounted vcentrally of the closure 39 is a terminal45 connected by means of a conductor 46 to one terminal 47 of the secondary 33 of the ignition coil 31, and adapted to receive the conductor leading to the distributor, and also mounted on the closure 39 are a pair of terminals 48 connected by means of conductors 49 to the two ends of the primary 32 of the coil 31; while leading from the two ends of the primary winding 32 on either side of an interruption interposed at an intermediate point in the winding 32 are conductors 50 connected to the contacts 15 carried by the switch base 16.

In Figure 4 I have shown an alternative method of securing the end closure in posi# tion wherein I employ an end closure 51 provided with a groove 52, and secured this closure to the casing 53 by inturning into this groove 52 the rear end 54 of the casing 53.

From the above description it will be understood by those skilled in the art that I have provided a unit containing an element essential for the operation of the ignition system, and meanscontrolling this element, all mounted in a single casing inaccessible and inoperable except by the key controlling the lock 23, that with the parts in position permitting the removal of the key and the locking of the switch, as shown in Figure 2, the circuit through the ignition coil is effectively interrupted, and held interrupted, to be reestablished only by re-insertion of the key, and rotation of the key to bring the parts into the position shown in Figure 3.

Under these circumstances it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that I have provided new and improved control means particularly adapted to the ignition circuit ofan internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. At the same time, however, it will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the particular' embodiment of my invention herein shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and that my invention may be employed other than to control the ignition coil of the ignition system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, and accordingly it will be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

l. In a power plant for an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing having at one end an integral part closing said one end against access through said one end; an element essential for the operation of said power plant, receivable through the second end of said casing into position within said casing supported from said casing; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said element and said one end and settable in condition at least restricting the functioning of said element; closure means for said second end for preventing at least unauthorized access through said second end; and connections, for connecting said unit in said power plant, accessible eXteriorly of said unit.

2. In a power' plant for an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closed at one end against at least unauthorized access through said one end; an element essential for the operation of said power plant, receivable through the second .end of said casing into position within said casing supported from said casing readily removable therefrom; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said element and said one end and settable in condition at least restricting the functioning of said element; closure means for said second end for preventing at least unauthorized access and removal through said second end; and connections, for connecting said unit in said power plant, accessible exteriorly of said unit. y

3. In a power plant for an automotive 'vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closed at one end against at least unauthorized access through said one end; an element essential for the operation of said power plant, receivable through the second end of said casing into position within said casing supported directly by said casing readily re movable therefrom; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said element and said one end and settable in condition at least restricting the functioning of said element; closure means for said second end for preventing at least unauthorized access and removal through said second end; and connections, for connecting said unit in said power plant, accessible exteriorly of said unit.

4. In an ignition system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle,

said unit in said system, accessible exteriorly of said unit.

5. In an ignition system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closed at one end against at leastunauthorized access through said one end; the ignition coil of said system, receivable through the second end of said casing into position within said casing supported directly by said casing readily removable therefrom; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said coil and said one end and settable in condition at least restricting the functioning of said coil; closure means for said second end for preventing at least unauthorized access and removal through said second end; and connections for connecting said unit in said system, accessible eXteriorly of said unit.

6. In a power plant for an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closed at one end against at least unauthorized access through said one end; an element essential for the operation of said power plant, receivable through the second end of said easing into position within said casing supported from said casing readily removable therefrom; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said element and said one end and settable in con dition at least restricting the functioning of said element; closure'means for said second end for preventing -access and removal through saidl second end; and connections, for connecting said unit in Said power plant, accessible eXteriorly of said unit.

7. In a power plant for an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closedfat one end against at least unauthorized access through said one end; an element essential for the operation of said power plant, receivable through the second end of said casing into position within said casing supported directly by said casing readily removable therefrom; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said element and said one end and settable in condition at least restricting the functioning of said element; closure means for said second end for preventing access and removal through said 'second end; and connections, for connecting said unit in said power plant, accessible exteriorly of said unit.

8. In an ignition system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closed at one end against at least unauthorized access through said one end; the ignition coil of said system, receivable through the second end of said casing into position within said casing supported from said casing readily removable therefrom; lock-controlled control means mounted in said casing between said coil and said one end and settable in condition at least restricting the functioning of said coil; closure means for said second end for preventing access and removal through said second end; and connections7 for connecting said unit in said system, accessible exterior-ly of said unit.

9. In an ignition system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: a theft-resisting casing closed at one end againstat least unauthorized access through said one end; the ignition functioningof said coil; closure means for said second end for preventing access and removal through said second end; and connections, for connecting said unit in said system` accessible exterior-ly of said unit.

I0. In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: the ignition coil of said system; lock-controlled switch means; connections connected to an intermediate point in a winding ,of said coil connecting said switch means in controlling relation with said coil; and means for preventing access to said switch means and said connections and at least the adjacent portion of said coil, at

least not without destruction of an essentialportion of said coil.

11. In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, a unit comprising: the ignition coil of said system; lock-controlled switch means; connections connected to an intermediate point in a winding of said coil connecting said switch means in controlling relation with .said coil; and means for preventing access t0 said switch means and said connections and at least the adjacent portion of said coil.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

